Become a Partner
of the
Thompson Aboriginal Accord
As a partner of the Thompson Aboriginal Accord, your organization or
business will recognize the role of Aboriginal people in our region
and pledge its commitment to strengthening relationships
with Aboriginal governments and people.
By reporting on successes and establishing goals annually, in alignment
with the Accord, your organization will become part of a movement to
enhance our community as well as our collective social,
spiritual, economic and physical well-being.
Upon committing to the Accord your organization or business
will be acknowledged as a Partner, and your successes
reported annually to the community.
For more information please contact:
Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy
Phone: 204-677-7225
Email: clafreniere@ucn.ca
Thompson Aboriginal Accord
Progress Report June 21, 2014
The Legacy
New Partners
The City of Thompson, and other signatories, signed the Aboriginal
Accord on June 21, 2009.
Since its inception, the Thompson Aboriginal Accord has
attracted new partners each year. This year, we are pleased to
welcome the Thompson Housing Agency, Thompson Regional
Airport Authority and the Thompson RCMP.
As a City, the Aboriginal Accord is one of our four key documents that
forms a part of our operations and planning.
The City of Thompson worked in collaboration with the Thompson
Urban Aboriginal Strategy to create the Thompson Aboriginal Accord
through community involvement and consultation. This collaboration
continues through ongoing support and engagement of partners.
The Accord is a ground-breaking document that recognizes the role of
Aboriginal people in our history and affirms our commitment to
strengthening relationships with Aboriginal governments and peoples.
The Thompson Aboriginal Accord is one of just two of its kind in Canada
today. As a living document the Accord is not a single one-time event,
but an ongoing responsibility adopted by signatories and partners who
report the successes of their commitment and future goals annually.
Since its inception, several partners have joined forces with the
signatories to push the Accords’ commitments and objectives
forward for the betterment of all residents.
The City of Thompson, signatories and partners are
proud to present this year’s achievements.
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Progress Report June 21, 2014
11
The Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy
The Partners
SUCCESS
GOAL
Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation
Building upon our successes from
2013-2014, the TNRC will work with the
Aboriginal
communty
to
enhance
participation in the local economy,
specifically through the promotion and
development of the Aboriginal Art Centre
for Northern Manitoba by utilizing the
principles of Community Economic
Development.
The TNRC continued to build relationships
and deepen partnerships with Aboriginal
peoples, orgainzations and governments
through its participation in the Thompson
Urban Aboriginal Strategy, Thompson
Housing Agency, Aboriginal Art Centre for
Northern Manitoba, National Aboriginal
Day and the Our Home Kikinaw Project.
Thompson Unlimited
TU will develop greater communication
with regional economic developers to
encourage Aboriginal investment and
participation in the local economy.
Thompson Unlimited partnered with KTC,
MKO, CFNDC and CEDF to determine gaps
in the Goods and Services Sector. In
addition TU’s Board adopted a renewed
strategy of developing regional investment
opportunities through facilitation and
partnerships with communities.
Vale
Vale successfully concluded the Thompson
Economic Diversification Working Group
process
(TEDWG)
and
completed
ready-to-implement action plans for the
region. Vale’s Northern Employment
Strategy has continued to result in 100% of
process operators being hired from several
communities within the TEDWG region and
Aboriginal workforce representation has
increased to 20%.
Vale will continue to invest in projects and
initiatives within the TEDWG region in
support of its Northern Employment
Strategy, career awareness and workforce
readiness, including: cultural proficiency
training, mentorship program for new hires,
Mining Matters, the Northern In-school
Liaison Program, and the Process Operator
in Training (POinT) program
University College of the North
UCN finalized the construction of the new
Thompson campus, including family
housing, child care and state of the art
classrooms and labs using the lastest
technology. UCN has begun the preliminary
work with our partners for the Industrial
Skills Trades Training Centre (ISTTC) in
Thompson.
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UCN will complete the transition to the new
Thompson campus. To ensure increased
access to high quality education, we will
create plans to ensure the new campus is
used to its full potential. UCN, with our
ISTTC partners, will continue to focus on
trades training with a long term goal for a
new facility. UCN will launch a new
strategic plan in 2015.
TUAS is expressly committed to the health and wellness of urban
Aboriginal people in Thompson. The TUAS continues to invest in
local organizations’ community-based projects with a focus on
Housing, Education & Training, Women, Children and Youth &
Cultural Identity. Many signatories and partners of the Aboriginal
Accord also collaborate on the TUAS committee with
representation from local organizations, such as:
Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada
Aboriginal Northern Affairs - Manitoba
Keewatin Tribal Council
Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre
Manitoba Housing
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
Manitoba Métis Federation
School District of Mystery Lake
Shirley Lafreniere - Independent
The City of Thompson
Thompson Chamber of Commerce
Thompson Homeless Shelter/CMHA
Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation
University College of the North
Vale
YWCA Thompson
Progress Report June 21, 2014
3
The Partners
The Signatories
SUCCESS
GOAL
The City of Thompson
The City continues to host quarterly
meetings with Aboriginal Accord partners,
enhancing information sharing and
learning. The quarterly meetings provide a
venue
to
strengthen
and
build
relationships
among
the
partners.
Furthermore, the City partnered with the
School District of Mystery Lake to initiate
cultural proficiency training for our
workforce.
The City will develop a representative
workforce strategy that will assist the City in
becoming an organization that is reflective
of the community. Moreover, the City will
continue to promote the Aboriginal Accord
to all levels of government and will strive to
incorporate our controlled entities as
partners to the Aboriginal Accord.
Keewatin Tribal Council
We supported our partners in their efforts
in addressing various housing related
challenges and initiatives. We also created
the “Aboriginal Job Seekers Guide” which
included community stakeholders input
and will have an official launch in
September 2014.
KTC will continue to particpate in
community projects/committees that will
advance positive relationships amongst all
stakeholders and the community at large.
We will also continue to advance and create
opportunities that will improve the lives of
Aboriginal people in the community.
SUCCESS
Northern Regional Health Authority
The Northern Health Region established
the Aboriginal Health and Human
Resources Committee to advise the Board
on issues affecting the health and human
resources of our Aboriginal population.
Chair Edie Turner of Cormorant, joins four
members of the Region’s Board and four
members from the Aboriginal community
on the committee.
As MKO is no longer the contribution
agreement holder for the Thompson Urban
Aboriginal Strategy; MKO will be examing
how we can refocus our efforts to become a
more active particpant at the table to
advocate for opportunities that will benefit
Aboriginal people and the community of
Thompson at large.
Manitoba Métis Federation
MMF has made contributions to the cultural
activities in Thompson. We are a major
player in the National Aboriginal Day
celebrations as we participate in planning
the event. We demonstrate our pride and
Métis culture in our annual Louis Riel
Commemoration Day and Louis Riel Day
events.
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To continue promoting awareness of our
Métis
culture
through
on-going
participation in the Winterfest activities,
celebrating the provincial Loiuis Riel Day
and Louis Riel Commemoration Day.
The community members of the Aboriginal
Health and Human Resources Commitee
will soon be named and the commitee will
begin its six meetings per year schedule in
support of the Regions achieving its
Strategic Plan.
School District of Mystery Lake
The SDML continued to provide students,
staff and partners opportunities in
continuing the cultural proficiency journey
throughout the school year through many
professional development opportunities.
Community partnerships and collaboration
have continued including the community
in the two day Cultural Proficiency training.
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
MKO was the contribution holder for the
Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy for
the past seven years. TUAS is currently in
transition and MKO is committed to
supporting
the Thompson
Urban
Aboriginal Strategy during this transition.
GOAL
The SDML will continue to engage in
culturally
proficient
practices
that
incorporate Aboriginal and Northern
perspectives throughout the district. The
district will continue to collaborate with
community partners and members to
provide opportunities which promote
healthy and meaningful activities that focus
on culture, corrective history and building
community. The district plans will reflect
these priorities in the continued effort to
improve student engagement and
academic achievement through these
opportunities.
Thompson Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber continues to encourage
Aboriginal investments and economic
growth in our city. The Chamber continues
to request presentations from local
organizations that are in support of the
Accord. We wish to enlighten our
membership, increase visibility and
contributions made to the local economy.
Progress Report June 21, 2014
We have established a working rapport
with Gloria Spence from Aboriginal
Chamber of Commerce. Our partnership
with this organization will be deemed a
cornerstone achievement for our Chamber
going forward.
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The Signatories
The Partners
SUCCESS
GOAL
Community Futures North Central Development
Community
Futures
North
Central
Development labour market development
in 2013 efforts included ensuring
participation in the Expo North event from
outlying communities, in particular within
the Aboriginal community and securing
funding from the Aboriginal Business
Service Network to develop and coordinate
a Youth
Entrepreneurship
Program
delivered in Thompson.
Community
Futures
North
Central
Development will continue to assist First
Nation, Metis and Inuit people and
communities to expand or acquire
businesses in the north central region of
the province. To accomplish this, CFNCD
will continue to provide business
development support by way of business
advice, business plan assistance, business
financing,
coordination
of
the
Self-Employment
Program
and
by
providing referrals to partner organizations
to serve the best interest of the
entrepreneur.
Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre
We have attainted our last year’s goal of
successfully landscaping the property of 4
Nelson Road to include the following:
asphalt of the parking lot, including the
area around the facility, the building of new
stairs and ramps for easy accessibility, and
the construction of an enclosed playground
to ensure the safety of the children and
youth who attend programming in the
facility.
The Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre will
continue to increase our partnerships and
advance our role and responsibility towards
progress for the betterment of Aboriginal
people in the city of Thompson and
Northern Manitoba.
Manitoba Hydro
We increased our visibiltiy and engagement
with Northern communities to enhance
stakeholders relationships based on mutual
recognition, mutual respect, mutual
responsibilities and sharing. Examples
include reorganization of Community
Relations
Department
to
enhance
on-the-ground operations, implimentation
of new Manitoba Hydro fleet to increase
visibility, coordination and assistance to
CEC and PUB NFAT hearings in the Northern
area to engage local residents and
community members.
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We will revitalize cultural awareness
training throughout the corporation based
on the experience and expertise of our
Northern staff and stakeholders.
SUCCESS
GOAL
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
Demonstrating NCN’s commitment to
being part of the Thompson business
community over the long term and
responding to an identified need for an
additional grocery store, NCN opened the
Thompson Family Foods store in July 2013.
The enterprise employs 40+ employees
providing economic and employment
opportunities for NCN members and all
Northern residents.
NCN will continue its efforts in promoting
and encouraging cultural events and
celebrations within our traditional territory.
Northern Association of Community Councils
We continued promoting awareness of the
changing and diverse needs of the
individuals and communities in our
province, to promote and address these
issues at our upcoming AGM’s. We will work
with members of the communities and
attendees to resolve and learn through
challenges.
We will continue to advocate for Northern
communities through proactive meetings,
resolutions and help further community
development.
Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy
Supported organizations and initiatives
with funding dollars, advocacy and support
in the areas of Education & Training, Culture,
Housing, Women and Children & Youth.
This year, the funding was focused on
Mino-Ska-Nah-Wey-Tahk, which is a
supportive housing facility for the
participants of Project Northern Doorway.
The TUAS will continue to collaberate with
the exisitng partnerships to support urban
Aboriginal people with a strategic focus on
Housing, Culture, Education & Employment,
Women and Children & Youth.
Thompson Housing Agency
The Thompson
Housing
Agency,
established in 2012, partnered with the
Canadian Mental Health Association and
Project Northern Doorway to acquire and
renovate a facility into a 16 room suportive
housing model for Project Northern
Doorway clients. The Thompson Housing
Agency partners with the Canadian Mental
Health Association to operate the home.
Progress Report June 21, 2014
The Thompson Housing Agency is looking
forward to building more significant links
with agencies and organizations with an
interest in housing. We will focus on
Aboriginal people and aspire to continue
the promotion and success of the
Thompson Aboriginal Accord to ensure
collaberation and inclusivity.
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